Business Development Executive, Studios/Networks

At Cast & Crew, we’ve empowered creativity and supported the global entertainment industry for decades. Together with our family of brands - Backstage, CAPS, Checks & Balances, Final Draft, Media Services, Sargent-Disc, and The TEAM Companies – we operate as a combined entertainment technology and services provider offering industry standard screenwriting accounting software, digital payroll products, data & reporting, and a host of creative tools.  The industry continues to move faster than ever, and the need for our expertise, our technology, and our people has never been greater.  We are a production’s best ally every step of the way. #OneCastOneCrew

About Backstage

Backstage is the largest talent marketplace for the entertainment industry, media, brand marketers, and other content creators, matching their creative projects with the best actors, voiceover artists, production crew, and other industry professionals. Employers around the world use our best-in-class technology to staff over 50,000 creative projects a year in film, television, commercials, branded content, theater, experiential marketing, and more.

Backstage is the only platform that services the entire content creation ecosystem, providing a one-stop shop for productions to source, hire, and pay right-fit talent for any project, anywhere. We recognize creatives as the beating heart of our brand, and we have a core mission to break down barriers for entry to careers in the entertainment industry by connecting talent to the best jobs, networking opportunities, and educational resources.

Crucial to that mission is our ongoing commitment to harnessing the latest technology to design innovative digital tools that promote more diverse, equitable, and inclusive hiring practices and facilitate more authentic, successful storytelling. We’re a team of customer-centric, data-driven, forward-thinking, strategic problem-solvers with a passion for helping our customers and members make amazing things together.

About TCS

TCS' mission is to empower creative talent and streamline the content creation process for projects in film, television, commercials/branded content, social media, theater, music video, video games, and more. We provide solutions that manage the entire project lifecycle, including talent discovery and staffing, production, post production, and distribution.  Our brands include Backstage, Coverfly, FilmFreeway, Final Draft, ShareGrid, and Voice123.

TCS is the creative services division of Cast & Crew, a family of individually innovative companies modernizing the ways in which content is created.

The Role:

Backstage is seeking a Business Development Executive, Studios/Networks to grow the number of clients posting jobs and casting calls on Backstage’s talent-marketplace career platforms (Backstage, Mandy, and StarNow). Our business development team consists of 12 business development executives and is part of Backstage’s larger Casting Department. The Casting Department includes account managers, casting editors, website admins, content specialists, business development executives, and customer service representatives working across nine countries – all specialized in the hiring and casting needs of creative projects. We value autonomy and collaboration equally and foster a culture where we trust our team members to execute on their own volition while working collaboratively towards mutual goals.

As a Business Development Executive specializing in Studios and Networks, you will play a pivotal role in building strategic initiatives to foster growth and partnerships with major and mini-major movie studios, broadcast and cable television networks, top production companies, professional casting organizations, streaming platforms, and related entertainment-industry institutions. Leveraging your industry expertise, you will connect with producers, production companies, casting directors, and agents engaged in high-end, studio and network-level content, helping them find the right talent for their projects through our innovative platform. Your ability to understand client needs and market trends will enable you to tailor solutions that enhance their creative endeavors, ultimately driving success for both our partners and our organization. In this role, you will not only cultivate relationships but also position yourself as an industry expert while promoting our platform as an essential resource in the ever-evolving entertainment landscape.

As a Business Development Executive in the Casting Department, your primary objectives are to expand our client base and drive the creation of new job posts, including casting calls and related opportunities for talent. Our clients include production companies, directors, brands, agencies, and content creators who are staffing projects for film/tv, commercials, theater, marketing campaigns, and more. In this role, you’ll be identifying and reaching out to leads, educating and onboarding new clients, and building cohesive, collaborative and dynamic relationships with new and existing partners. 

The Business Development Executive will report to our Director of Business Development & Customer Service.

What You’ll Do:

• Relationship Building: Cultivate relationships with key decision-makers at major and independent studios, TV networks, streaming services, and related production entities to establish long-term partnerships. Engaging in meaningful conversations to understand their unique goals
• Market Research and Analysis: Conduct in-depth research on the major and independent studios, TV networks, streaming services, and related production entities, identifying key players, emerging trends, and potential growth areas
• Analyze market data to inform strategic decision-making and tailor our offerings to meet industry demands
• Research and map out the most influential decision-makers at major and independent studios, TV networks, streaming services, and related production entities
• Business Development and Lead Generation: Develop and implement targeted outreach strategies to engage with major and independent studios, TV networks, streaming services, and related production entities
• Identify and qualify potential clients, building a robust pipeline of opportunities and utilizing a CRM and other advanced tools
• Cultivate relationships with key decision-makers in the industry through networking events, conferences, and personalized communications
• Client Relationship Management: Act as a primary point of contact for assigned accounts/partners/leads, fostering strong, long-term relationships while working collaboratively with our casting content verification and account management teams to help screen, onboard, and retain clients
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure client needs are met and expectations are exceeded
• Regularly assess client satisfaction and identify opportunities for upselling or cross-selling services
• Product and Service Expertise: Gain a comprehensive understanding of our talent acquisition solutions and how they address the specific needs of major and independent studios, TV networks, streaming services, and related production entities
• Collaborating with the product team to develop tailored solutions for major and independent studios, TV networks, streaming services, and related production entities to ensure our products and services are meeting the needs of this cohort of employers
• Stay informed on market trends, competitor landscape, challenges, and best practices for major and independent studios, TV networks, streaming services, and related production entities
• Provide market insights and feedback to ensure our platform addresses the needs of major and independent studios, TV networks, streaming services, and related production entities
• Sales Strategy and Execution: Develop and present tailored proposals and pitches to potential clients, highlighting the unique value proposition of our services
• Negotiate contracts and close deals, meeting or exceeding sales targets
• Collaborate with the marketing team to create targeted content and campaigns that resonate with major and independent studios, TV networks, streaming services, and related production entities
• Reporting and Analytics: Track and report on key performance indicators) related to business development activities
• Leverage your expert understanding of your vertical and related casting/hiring processes to act as an internal and external resource to help advise on questions from internal teams and customers, including related best-practices and industry trends
• Provide regular updates to management on market trends, competitive landscape, and growth opportunities

What we’re looking for from you:

• Deep connections in and understanding of the entertainment industry and professional casting at a movie studio and TV network level preferred
• Experience working with casting directors, producers, directors, creative directors, talent agents, and/or marketing/advertising agencies preferred
• Demonstrated experience in an Account Management, Business Development, or Client Success role; high-velocity B2B SaaS tech or marketplace experience preferred
• Deep customer empathy; you enjoy solving customer pain points and needs 
• Technical acuity; must be able to to understand, utilize, and explain our online casting/hiring technology
• Ability to translate technical language to a non-technical audience
• Experience with customer support and segmentation, and strategizing effective communication and positioning for each unique segment
• Strong analytical skills; you are able assemble and interpret data, create executive summaries, and deliver actionable insights
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills that can be tailored to suit a variety of individual personalities and levels of seniority
• Excellent project management skills; you are able to work autonomously, maintain detailed records, and be attentive and responsive to client communication
• Proven ability to solve a wide variety of unstructured challenges

Compensation for this role is structured as the listed base salary range plus commission, with OTE of $110,500 annually.

Compensation is commensurate with various factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, qualifications, skills, training, licensure, certifications, geographic cost of labor, and other business and organizational needs. Compensation range for candidates in other locations may differ based on the cost of labor in that location.The compensation range for this position is:$70,000—$85,000 USD

Benefits 

Cast & Crew provides a comprehensive package of employee benefits including: Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO, health and wellness programs, employee discounts, and more! Note: Cast & Crew benefits are subject to eligibility requirements. 

Due to the high volume of applicants, it is likely that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.  

CA residents: Your personal information may be collected in connection with certain services provided by Cast & Crew or its affiliated companies.  A summary of your California privacy rights can be found at: https://www.castandcrew.com/privacy-policy/  

Cast & Crew is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals based on job-related qualifications and ability to perform a job, without regard to age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, citizenship or marital status, and to maintain a non-discriminatory environment free from intimidation, harassment or bias based upon these grounds.